Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Lesotho
Lesotho: Infant mortality rate was 56.34 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
56.34
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
10th
of 201 countries
All-time high
159.85
in 1952
All-time low
56.34
in 2024
Years of data
73
1952–2024
Infant mortality rate in Lesotho, 1952–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, infant mortality rate in Lesotho stood at 56.34. That is the lowest value across all 73 years on record.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, infant mortality rate in Lesotho peaked at 159.85 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 56.34, in 2024.
That places Lesotho 10th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 73 years of available data.
Infant mortality rate in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 159.85 | — |
| 1953 | 155.84 | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 151.97 | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 148.19 | -2.5% |
| 1956 | 144.65 | -2.4% |
| 1957 | 141.88 | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 139.84 | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 138.74 | -0.8% |
| 1960 | 138.42 | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 138.89 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 140.13 | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 141.88 | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 143.68 | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 145.07 | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 145.91 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 145.95 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 145.2 | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 143.85 | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 141.82 | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 139.53 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 137.24 | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 134.6 | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 131.62 | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 127.99 | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 123.83 | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 119.32 | -3.6% |
| 1978 | 114.78 | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 110.14 | -4.0% |
| 1980 | 105.53 | -4.2% |
| 1981 | 100.99 | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 96.7 | -4.2% |
| 1983 | 92.87 | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 89.38 | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 86.19 | -3.6% |
| 1986 | 83.41 | -3.2% |
| 1987 | 80.98 | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 78.95 | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 77.21 | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 75.91 | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 75.14 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 74.81 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 74.79 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 75.09 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 75.3 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 75.13 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 74.77 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 74.26 | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 74.35 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 74.8 | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 75.53 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 76.36 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 77.08 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 77.79 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 78.91 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 79.58 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 79.01 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 83.92 | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 77.57 | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 73.57 | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 70.91 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 70.99 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 71.43 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 70.27 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 68.96 | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 68.22 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 67.97 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 65.22 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 63.52 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 62.14 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 61.05 | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 59.87 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 58.43 | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 56.34 | -3.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 56.34 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 28.71, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 56.34 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.19, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 147.62 | 138.74 | 159.85 | 8 |
| 1960s | 142.9 | 138.42 | 145.95 | 10 |
| 1970s | 128.09 | 110.14 | 141.82 | 10 |
| 1980s | 89.22 | 77.21 | 105.53 | 10 |
| 1990s | 74.96 | 74.26 | 75.91 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78.06 | 74.8 | 83.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.11 | 63.52 | 73.57 | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.56 | 56.34 | 62.14 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 7 Guinea 59.82 compare
- 8 Central African Republic 58.83 compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of Congo 56.42 compare
- 11 Chad 56.26 compare
- 12 Sierra Leone 54.6 compare
- 13 Afghanistan 48.31 compare
More health data for Lesotho
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4669 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,227 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 382 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.8108 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0548 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infant mortality rate in Lesotho?
- Infant mortality rate in Lesotho was 56.34 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest infant mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 159.85 in 1952.
- What is the lowest infant mortality rate recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.34 in 2024.
- How does Lesotho rank for infant mortality rate?
- Lesotho ranks 10th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is infant mortality rate rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Infant mortality rate (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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